Lumber gluing apparatus



Dec. 6, 1955 T. J. slEvERT LUMBER GLUING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OCT.. 27, 1952 nl@ L 412 U-!l%l)ll u .n m f Re f 0V N MMW M ms ...n mu/ A on www w m www# V. B I) @L l (\\f|\ Dec. 6, 1955 Filed Oct. 27. 1952 figg;

T. J. SIEVERT LUMBER GLUING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7' HE 000 EJ. SIEVE/W' ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 6, 1955 T. J. slEvERT LUMBER GLUING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed OCT.. 27, 1952 INVENTOR. THEOUREJ. S/EVE/ BY V/wKQ ATTORNEYS.

2,725,909 Patented Dec. e, 1955 2,725,909 LUMBER GLUING APPARATUS Theodore J. Sievert, Naperville, Ill., assignor to Kroehler Mfg. Co., Naperville, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application October 27, 1952, Serial No. 317,010

3 Claims. (Cl. 144-281) My invention relates to improvements in lumber gluing apparatus. k n

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of an improved apparatus for curing glued joints under constant pressure and under an infrared ray heat source.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus of the foregoing character embodying an infrared ray heat source and which through the utilization thereof avoids the disadvantages characteristic of prior known apparatus employing high frequency induction heating, namely, that of high initial apparatus cost, high operating cost and over-heating of the glue such that the glue in the joints is caused to bubble outwardly of the joints.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus of the foregoing character embodying a revoluble structure having a plurality of Work supporting platforms, each being provided with Ypneumatically operated clamping means for maintaining the work under constant pressure, the said structure being adapted for indexing whereby the work supporting platforms are successively moved into registration with a work loading and unloading station.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus of the foregoing character which is relatively simple in construction, highly eliicient in operation and relatively inexpensive' to construct and to operate.

Other and further objects and advantages of .my invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantiallyy on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 3`-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the 'control means for the apparatus of my invention.

Referring to 'thev drawings, the numeral 10 indicates generally a revoluble frame structure comprising an annular base member 11 suitably supported on a series of casters or rollers 12, the said base member carrying a plurality of upright columns 13 which support a bed or table 14, the casters'being adapted to roll on a suitable annular track 16 supported on a floor surface. Fixed to the floor and arranged axially of track 16 and the annular base member 11 is a post or spindle 17a the upper end of which is received in a suitable bearing member 17 secured as by spider arms to said base member. As will be apparent the spindle 17 provides the vertical axis about which the structure is revoluble.

Spaced 90 degrees apart and extending radially outwardly from the table are four work carrying platforms 18, 19, 21 and 22, each identical in construction and each comprising three inverted T members 23 arranged Arranged to co-operate'with each of the channel mem-` bers 24 are three presser bars 26 constituting movable clamping elements. Each of the presser bars 26 is independently operated by a pneumatic cylinder of conventional construction. Certain of the presser' bars are directly connected to the piston rods of the said cylinders while other of the said presser bars are connected to the said pneumatic cylinders through crank arms, as will be presently described.

Referring to Fig. l, it will be seen that 8 pneumatic cylinders, A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are supported on the table 14 and are arranged as shown with cylinders A, B and C directed to the right, cylinders D, E and F directed to the left, cylinder G directed away from the operator O and cylinder H directed towards the operator. The piston rod of each of these cylinders is connected directly to a respective presser bar 26 and moves in a horizontal plane. Because of the limitations of space available on the table 14 and in order to effect a compact organization of parts certain other pneumatic cylinders are supported under the table on the annular member 11 with their piston rods being adapted to move in vertical planes. Four of such cylinders I, J, K and L are providedand as seen more clearly in Fig. 3, each of said pneumatic cylinders is connected to a respective pressure bar 26 through a crank arm 30 which is pivotally'mounted on a portion of the table structure. It will be seen that the pneumatic cylinders I and L are arranged below and substantially in Vertical alignment with the cylinders D and C, respectively, while the pneumatic cylinders I and K are arranged below and in substantial vertical alignment with the cylinders F and A, respectively. Thus each work supporting platform 18, 19, 21 and 22 is provided with three pressure bars 26 arranged in confronting relation to an abutment member 24 at the end of each of the said platforms. The pneumatic cylinders are of conventional construction and are of the type in which air may be admitted to either side of the piston in order to effect positive movement of the piston rod alternately in opposite directions.

The pneumatic cylinders are'arranged to operate simultaneously in groups of three. For example, cylinders A, B and C comprise one group, cylinders D, E and F a second group, cylinders J, H and K a third group and cylinders I, G and L a fourth group. Each of the groups of cylinders intended to operate simultaneously are connected through a separate four way valve 25 to a header 27 supported on the table 14 and communicating with a pressure lluid supply line 28. Each of the said valves when operated, as will be hereinafter more fully explained,

serves to admit compressed air into the cylinders so as to effect a desired movement of the piston rods thereof, in one direction or another or to maintain the presser bars in sustained compressing condition. Each four way Valve is independently actuated by a control Vrod 29k which is suitably supported under each of the work supporting platforms. The end of each control rod is provided with A erally by the numeral 33, all contained within the housing 34. A foot controlled switch 36 is supported on the floor surface and is in electrical circuit with the solenoid oper ated clutch to control the operation of the same. A-s will be seen by reference to Fig. the annular supporting member il carries on its periphery four projecting fingers 37 arranged at 9() degrees to each other, the said fingers in the rotation of the annular supporting member being adapted to engage with a limit switch 38 in electrical circuit with the solenoid operated clutch.

As will be apparent by reference to Fig. l it will be seen that the apparatus of my invention is in effect an indexing turret structure comprising four work supporting platforms each of 'which is successively moved in sequence to all four positions illustrated in Fig. l. The position adjacent that of the operator O constitutes the loading or unloading station for the work and, of course, the platform is exposed so that it isreadily accessible for loading or unloading of the work. rll`he other three positions shown adjacent and opposite the loading station constitute curing positions for the work and accordingly the structure is enclosed within a suitable housing or hood 39 which in plan view is substantially like that shown in Fig. 4. The turret structure is arranged to rotate counterclockwise as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l and disposed in the first position immediately following the loading station is a bank of infrared ray heat lamps 41 arranged over the work supporting platform but in relatively close proximity thereto. In the second indexing position directly opposite the loading station two banks of infrared ray lamps 42 and 43 supported on a suitable framework are arranged one above and one below the work supporting platform so that heat is directed against the work from opposite sides. A lower bank of lamps has been omitted from the first indexing position because when the work reaches the said first position the glue pressed from between the joints is still fluid and might drip and deposit on said lamps if the -same were located at said first position. At the third indexing position upper and lower banks of lamps 44 and 46 respectively are provided similarly as in the second position.

In the operation of my apparatus, with one of the work supporting platforms dispos-ed at the loading station, the operator manipulates the control rod 29 associated with a respective platform to actuate the respective valve admitting pressure fluidV into the respective pneumatic cylinders so as to effect retraction of the pressure bars 26. The work to be glued consisting of a plurality of wooden sections 45 to which glue has been previously applied are laid on the supporting members 23 side byside as illustrated. The operator then manipulates the control Vrod 29 to admit pressure fluid into the respective cylinders so as to effect forward movement of the pressure bars 'against the work thereby to compress the work against the end abutment member 24. This pressure is constantly maintained until manually released by the operator as will be hereinafter explained. Upon actuation of the foot switch 36 by the operator the solenoid operated clutch is rendered operative to rotate the structure in a counterclockwise direction. A finger 37 in succeeding position will be caused to engage the limit switch 38 to cle-energize the clutch thereby arresting movement of the structure. The platform which has just been loaded with work is now under the bank of lamps 41 while the next succeeding platform is moved into registration with the loading station. The operator again loads the work supporting platform in the manner hereinbefore described and effects an indexing ofthe structure to the next succeeding position. After each of the four work supporting platforms has been successively loaded and the first loaded platform is caused to move again into registration with a loading or unloading station, the operator upon manipulation of the control rodV 29 actuates the valve to shut off the supply of pressure fluid and introduces pressure fluid into the opposite sides of the pistons of the respective` pneumatic cylinders so as to effect an opposite move- CFI ment thereof and corresponding movement of the presser bars 26. Thus, pressure on the work is released and the work which comprises glued sections may be removed from the work supporting platform. The platform at the loading station is now in condition to be again loaded with new work in the manner hereinbefore described. The cycle of operations above described is repeated during the operation of the apparatus. It will be understood that after loading when the operator manipulates the control rod to apply pressure to work on a platform that said pressure is maintained continuously throughout the indexing movement of the structure until the operator again at the loading station in unloading the completed work manipulates the valve to release the pressure so that the work may be removed. Also after each loading of work on a work supporting platform the operator by manipulating the foot switch 36 initiates indexing of the structure to the next succeeding position at which it is automatically arrested as previously explained. I have found that in actual operation a complete cycle covering loading, indexing and unloading requires about l5 minutes for completion. During such interval the heat generated by the infrared ray heat lamps effects the drying of the glue between the joints of the work at a relatively moderate but efficient rate. In consequence the glue is not caused to overheat and boil out from between the joints a condition which obtains when high frequency induction heating is used. Thus there results stronger joints between the wood sections and a neater appearance of the finished work. By eliminating the likelihood of the glue boiling out frombetween the joints, the upper and lower surfaces of the finished work remain devoid of glue so that it is possible to stack the finished work one on top of another without adjacent layers of work sticking together. This is an important consideration in effecting a nigh rate ofproduction.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Hence I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments described or uses mentioned, but intend thc same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention bcing limited only by the appended claims.

I' claim:

l. In a lumber gluing apparatus a frame comprising an annular base member supported on rollers and arranged to move on a supporting horizontal track about a vertical axis, a plurality of upright columns carried on said base member, a central frame portion supported on said columns, a plurality of outwardly radially directed horizontally disposed work supporting platforms extending from said central frame portion at right angles to said vertical axis, clamping-means carried on each of said wori; supporting platforms, each of said clamping: means including at least one stationary element at the outer end of a platform and one movable element movable horizontally longitudinally thereof, fluid pressure means for selectively independently moving said movable elements into clamping relationship with respective stationary elements. means for moving said work supporting platforms successively into registration with a work loading station. heating means comprising a plurality of infrared ray heat lampsV in close proximity to zones occupied by said work supporting platforms except the zone of said work loading station, and means for rotating said frame and associated structure whereby each of said platforms is successively moved first into registration with said loading station and then into heated zones.

2. In a lumber gluing apparatus a frame comprising an annular base member supported on rollers and arranged to move on a supporting horizontal track about a vertical axis, a plurality of upright columns carried on said base member, a central frame portion supported on said columns, a plurality of outwardly radially directed horizontally disposed work supporting platforms` extending; from said central frame, portion at right angles to s ad vertical axis, clamping means carried on each of said Work supporting platforms, each of said clamping means including at least one stationary abutment at the outer end of each work supporting platform and at least one movable presser bar at the inner end of each of said platforms and in confronting relation to a respective stationary abutment, a plurality of pneumatic cylinders supported by said central frame portion, at least one of each of said cylinders being connected to one of said presser bars for selectively moving the same into clamping relationship with a respective abutment, means for moving said work supporting platforms successively into registration with a work loading station, heating means comprising a plurality of infrared ray lamps in close proximity to Zones occupied by said work supporting platforms except the Zone of said work loading station, and means for rotating said frame and associated structure whereby each of said platforms is successively moved irst into registration with said loading -station and then into heated zones.

3. In a lumber gluing apparatus a frame comprising an annular base member supported on rollers and arranged to move on a supporting horizontal surface about a vertical axis, a plurality of upright colunms carried on said base member, a central frame portion supported on said columns, a plurality of outwardly radially directed horizontally disposed work supporting platforms extending from said central frame portion, clamping means carried on each of said work supporting platforms, each of said clamping means including at least one stationary abutment at the outer end of each work supporting platform and at least one movable presser bar at the inner end of each of said platforms and in confronting relation to a said supported by said central frame portion and operable in aV horizontal direction, a plurality of pneumatic cylinders supported on said base member below said rst mentioned cylinders and operable in a vertical direction, the horizontally operable cylinders being directly connected to certain of said presser bars, crank arms pivotally supported on said frame, each of said crank arms being operatively connected with one of said vertically operable cylinders and with one of said presser bars, said cylinders being operable for selectively moving said presser bars into clamping relationship with respective abutments, means for moving said work supporting platforms successively into registration with a work loading station, heating means comprising a plurality of infrared ray lamps in close proximity to zones occupied by said work supporting platforms except the zone of said work loading station, and means for rotating said frame and associated structure whereby each of said platforms is successively moved first into registration with said loading station and then into heated zones.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,420,244 Diehl June 20, 1922 1,496,539 Hudson June 3, 1924 1,921,715 Whitney et al. Aug. S, 1933 2,253,713 Lancaster Aug. 26, 1941 2,321,644 Billstrom et al .Tune 15, 1943 2,625,498 Koch Jan. 13, 1953 

